Mother faces charge for leaving baby in car while shopping

2 years ago

PINELLAS PARK, Fla. (970 WFLA) – Pinellas Park Police say a Clearwater mother is facing a child neglect charge for leaving a 19-month old baby in the car while she shopped.

Police say officers responded to the Target store on the 7100 block of US Highway 19 North just before 5 p.m. where witnesses told them the child was left locked in a running sedan with the air conditioning circulating on low. Police say the child was crying in the car.

Police say the mother, 35-year-old Vita Abramenkova, was inside the store for 40 minutes and had no way of keeping track of the child or the vehicle. Police also say Abramenkova admitted to this offense, and was arrested on the charge of child neglect. The child was released to her father, police say.